Unilever
This article was originally published in The Rose Sheet
Executive Summary
Increasing sales 5%-6% by 2004 is top strategic priority, Unilever Financial Director Rudy Markham tells analysts during Banc of America Securities Consumer Conference April 2-4. Unilever sales increased 7% to $40.22 bil. for year including Best Foods acquisition (1"The Rose Sheet" Feb. 12, 2000, In Brief). Unilever's brand portfolio has plunged from 1,600 in 1999 to 970, with 250 more brands expected to be culled this year, Markham notes. Company announced it would refocus its portfolio on 400 core brands in 1999 (2"The Rose Sheet," Sept. 27, 1999, p. 8)